India is famous for many things: the Taj Mahal, its amazing curries, beautiful mountain ranges, and fabulous beaches. Goa is home to many of those beaches.
Each year, millions of locals and foreigners flock to the numerous private pool villas in Goa, to soak up the sun and drink alcohol (thanks to the dirt cheap alcohol in Goa).
And, of course, to explore the many gorgeous beaches on offer.
Some of the beaches can be a little crowded with locals (not that there is anything wrong with local people of course), but sometimes we want to escape to a little serenity.
So if you’re looking for the best beaches in Goa for foreigners, then you’ve come to the right place.
Before we went to Goa after visiting Sri Lanka, I did A LOT of research on the best places to stay with the best beaches in Goa. So, I'd say I know my stuff.
Sit back, relax, and transport yourself to the beaches of Goa.
All these beaches are best visited in November to March, which is peak season. The temperatures can hit 40 degrees Celsius, so make sure you pack your suncream!
I figured it’s best to give you five Goa beaches for foreigners so we can cover both North and South Goa.
There is always an argument about what side of Goa has the best beaches: is it the South or the North?
In general, the south has more picturesque, quieter beaches, perfect for those looking for peace and tranquility.
Whereas the northern beaches of Goa are more lively and filled with parties and lots of opportunities to drink.
(TOUR: This is an awesome Goa Party Boat Adventure if you're looking for fun!)
So, it really depends on what you like.
Palolem is a backpacker's paradise and this picturesque beach is located in South Goa. Its crescent-shaped beauty offers a range of boat trips to enjoy the sea and lots of beach huts which offer drinks, snacks and sun beds for relaxing.
The beach itself has a vibrant landscape with the most stunning tropical views. The sand is white and the beach is lined with palm trees as well as colorful beach huts selling drinks and local treats.
There are usually a few lifeguards on duty, and the area itself is one of the safest for swimming in Goa!
Palolem is actually well known for its silent discos (where you listen to music but with headphones on), keeping in tune with the tranquil essence of the area.
Granted, this beach has been attracting more crowds recently, but it still has a very distinct charm and appeal that many people love.
Rock formations to one side of the beach also make for a gorgeous foreground as you watch the blue waters and horizon contrast against the beach huts.
Opening Time: 24 hours
This beach is located in North Goa and I would consider it one of the best beaches in Goa for foreigners who are looking for no crowds at all.
It’s considered one of the most well-maintained and cleanest beaches in Goa and it’s less crowded than the rest (which is really rare for busy Goa).
Due to the lesser amount of people, the beach is a lot cleaner, as is the water. This makes it perfect for swimming!
This 1.5 km beach boasts beautiful blue water, swaying palm trees and soft sand.
You’ll find a wide range of cafes, pubs, restaurants to eat and drink there are even sunbeds and umbrellas provided free of charge, as long as you purchase something!
There might be some massage ladies and vendors around, but they don’t usually keep bothering you, which is nice.
You could do bodyboarding at this beach too, thanks to the smaller waves.
Other than that, you won’t find a lot of water sports at Ashwem Beach, but that does mean it’s so peaceful and tranquil!
Opening Time: 05:00 - 22:00
This is a popular beach that’s also located in North Goa and it’s perfect for those seeking thrills and fun in the sun. It’s one of the three famous trio of most popular beaches in Goa: Baga, Calangute, and Candolim.
And it’s no surprise why. It’s a busy beach with sunbeds lined across, so it’s a great spot to catch a tan.
It’s also popular with more foreign and domestic tourists, but you’ll often find in peak season, it’s flocked with foreigners, so if you don’t want to feel like you’re on a beach at “home”, then maybe head to one of the other beaches.
But due to its popularity, it’s got everything you need for an amazing beach day or stay.
It’s 30 kilometres long, making it one of the biggest stretches of beach in the state of Goa and it’s got bars, restaurants, beach shacks, 5-star resorts, hostels, everything you can imagine.
This is definitely a convenient beach to be visiting, and if this is your first time in Goa, you might find it's worth it!
Also, one of the best things to try when in Goa is to try water sports. And Candolim Beach is one of the top spots for exactly this! Including, banana boat rides, parasailing, and jet ski rides. These will only set you back around 300-500 rupees, so it’s good fun to get involved.
Well, you can probably tell by now why it’s one of the best beaches in Goa for foreigners (and locals alike): it’s got everything!
TOUR: Get an awesome watersports package right here. 4-in-1!
Opening Time: 24 hours
This beach is famous for its turtles, so if you love turtles as much as I do, then you’ll want to visit here! It’s the nesting ground of the endangered Olive Ridley Turtles.
There are many foreign tourists here and it’s very popular with Russians, probably why it’s known as “Little Russia”.
I once had a local lady trying to sell me something on the beach, (of course), but we chatted for about 20 minutes and all she did was complain about the Russians, which was strange.
I haven’t had a bad encounter with any Russians yet, so I politely listened and then left.
Anyway, this beach is located in North Goa too and it’s for sure one of the “quieter” ones. If you prefer more secluded beaches, this one might be for you.
It measures about 3 km long and has beautiful soft light sand and is a great spot for swimming.
Dolphin boat tours are common in Goa, and this is one of the beaches from which you can leave to spot those majestic creatures.
A little further up from the protected turtle area, you’ll find beach huts, food places and nightclubs. This is also a great beach for kitesurfing if you’ve ever wanted to try it!
Finally, the village of Morjim and the beach is not overly “touristy” and gives off an authentic Goan charm. So, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Last, but certainly not least, the last beach to feature on my list of best beaches in Goa for foreigners is Benaulim Beach.
It’s located in the South and is one of the evergreen beaches of Goa.
Benaulim Beach is sandy with no rocks, making it perfect for romantic walks either in early morning or the evening.
But this place is most famous for its sunset views, so maybe consider visiting later in the day!
It’s a very tranquil and “empty” beach and I can really recommend this if you’re simply looking to escape and find your own thoughts.
There are many foreign tourists who visit throughout the season, but even in peak season, it’s still the quietest beach in South Goa.
After a long walk on the beautiful empty beach, you can retreat to one of the beach shacks for some local food and a well-deserved drink.
So, now that we’ve finished with the best beaches in Goa for foreigners, I’m going to consider some other beaches in Goa that fit other categories…. Keep reading!
There are two beaches that can fall under this category: Vagator and Colva.
Firstly, Vagator. This is one of the most popular beaches in Goa for nightlife and young people, and there are many beach bars and clubs that offer raves. (India LOVES its rave music).
It’s not a smooth beach, though. It’s quite rocky, so that's one thing to note. But the surrounding red cliffs are super pretty. It’s also the best beach in Goa for a sunset.
Bradley and I went to Vagator, over our 3 year anniversary. It’s not a couples beach and not the most romantic. But you can still walk on the sand on this beach.
It’s an area to get drunk and have fun, and that’s what you can do on Vagator!
I liked it, but I liked the South of Goa WAY better.
Vagator also includes little Ozran beach which also has bars and is easy to travel between.
Secondly is Colva beach. This is located in South Goa and it’s a really cool beach that’s popular with locals. It’s not picturesque or “pretty”, but it’s got lots of cool beach restaurants and bars which offer an amazing sunset view.
It’s also got a lot of happy hours and water sports activities for cheap. You can parasail, jet ski, banana boat, and much more, for very little money.
TOUR: Check out this Pub Crawl in Goa.
If you love to swim in the sea (which Bradley really does), then there are lots of swimming opportunities both north and south of Goa. Actually, all of the beaches I’ve mentioned so far can be swam in, but our favourite is Palolem Beach.
Palolem made the top five best beaches in Goa for foreigners list, so you can read more about it in the earlier section.
Mobor beach is a good choice for couples travelling together. It’s located in South Goa, next to the Cavelossim beach and it offers something for every couple.
There are many restaurants and bars to enjoy romantic beach meals, there are beautiful sunsets, cruises on the Sal, dolphin boat tours, and birdwatching tours.
No matter what you like to do as a couple, you can probably find it here!
It’s even got the two most expensive hotels in Goa, and the best casino (if you’re into gambling).
It’s a very picturesque beach which adds to the element of romance it exudes.
The sand is very light in color, fine and softly squeaks under your feet. I think it’s a great choice for couples.
Alternatively, Palolem Beach is also great for couples too.
Gosh, Goa has so many beaches that it would impossible to visit them all unless you stayed for weeks upon weeks.
So, if you want to know the most popular and most famous beaches in Goa, I’ve made a little list.
Of course there are other things you can do on each beach, but these are the things they're most famous for:
So there you have it, my guide to the best beaches in Goa for foreigners... and then some!
Let me know if you’ve visited any of these beaches in Goa, or if you can recommend any other great beaches in Goa for me to add to the list.
As I say, there is nothing wrong with locals being at the beach, but sometimes it’s nice to escape the crowds and simply feel like you’re in a whole different world, and these beaches will help get you there.
If you're concerned about how to dress at beach in Goa, then check out our in-depth guide on what to wear in India.
Goa is actually quite a big state (even though it's the smallest state in India).
What I mean is, it's not just a case of hopping on a metro or train to each beach. Choose a main location to stay such as Panaji and you can use taxis (no Uber or Ola in Goa because the state doesn't allow it), buses or even rent your own moped to visit all the beaches of Goa.
Driving your own moped in Goa is quite safe and it's actually very serene and pretty, and not to mention, cheap!
For more help, check out this useful guide on getting to different parts of Goa.
So what is the best beach for foreigners in Goa?
Well, it depends on what you want and your personality, but hopefully it's a little clearer where you should go after reading this post.
If you’re planning on touring India after relaxing at the beach for a couple of weeks (I don’t blame you, we spent almost 10 days), check out our other guides on India, including Mumbai, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Pushkar, Udaipur and Delhi.
India is a wonderful country and each area offers something unique and new.
You also might want to check out our India packing list or beach vacation packing list to make sure you're fully prepared.
Enjoy!
Leave a comment
Let us know what you think!